Sunday 29 July 2018

A new whirl 2018.07 edition

Greetings! Today I'm sharing some of my new experiences in July. They fall into two main categories: Art and Food! You can tell that I have my priorities straight, art for the mind, and food for the body :)

ART FOR THE MIND:

In July I saw a lot of interesting art work, both while I was in Quebec City, and after I returned home. Quebec City's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, steeped in history so no matter where you look, there is art and historic architecture to explore. The city itself is situated in a picturesque setting with hills, the St. Lawrence river, and the surrounding mountain range. I shared some of my photos from Quebec City here.

In July I also led a 'virtual' discovery walk in Toronto to explore the twelve (12) outdoor art installations on King Street as posted here. Since my last visit to King Street, four new winners were added. They're designed by Ryerson University students. Resonance and Imprint are installed in the Entertainment District at King Street West and Simcoe Street. Parcade and Caravanserais are installed near St. James Park, at King Street East and Church Street. Here's a closer look at the four winners:

Resonance: A colourful grid with drums made from straps and buckets from local stores. When you smack the hand prints, the drums light up with green and blue lights.


Imprint: This life-sized interactive installation encourages passers-by to create 3D art or impressions by pressing into the pins. You can press your whole body into it.


Parcade: An interactive video arcade made from plywood and acrylic. The 'Countman' game uses little beads to tally your count of things like birds, bikes, or dogs in St. James park. The 'Tree-Thousand and One' game helps you identify the different types of leaves you can find in the park, and the 'Squirrel Racer' provides a fun way to map out the park.


Caravanserais: A wooden seating in the shape of a car parked along the street where tired urbanites can take a rest. Back in the days of horse and carriage, a caravanserai is the term for a roadside inn where weary travellers could park their caravans and steeds after a long journey.


FOOD FOR THE BODY:

While in Quebec City, we tried a new-to-us restaurant called La Piazzetta on rue St-Jean and liked it so we returned with our friends. We had thin crust pizzas, regular crust pizzas, salad, and pasta. Everyone was satisfied with their food order which is a good sign.


In Toronto, I tried Japanese sushi and maki rolls at Gonoe Sushi. I enjoyed my food order which came with a bowl of miso soup and a small salad. I've been looking for a Japanese restaurant to substitute for those that I used to go to but have been closed after the owners retired. I now have Gonoe Sushi as an option.


There you go...Exploring new art and food is my new whirl in July. I've documented my previous adventures in March, April, May, and June below.

RELATED POSTS:

Your turn...What's new for you in July? Which of the four art installations do you like the most? Do you have a favourite pizza place or sushi bar to share? I'd love to hear your comments.

44 comments:

  1. MMMM, I could do with some of the food for the body!

    ReplyDelete
  2. OMG I want sushi now!
    Fab collection of works too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jody, for your visit and comment. The sushi was good!

      Delete
  3. I always enjoy your 'give it a whirl' Natalie and the places you visit. I loved Quebec city, as I've mentioned. Not a sushi fan but I do think I would enjoy the pizza. Have a great week!
    Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can always go for pizza and a glass of wine in Quebec City :) Have a beautiful week, Sue!

      Delete
    2. I'd love to join you in Quebec City, Natalie. Maybe one day??? Thanks for linking up with us at #MLSTL it is always a pleasure having you join us. Have a great wee, Natalie xx

      Delete
    3. It would be so cool, Sue, for us to meet up in Quebec City, or another destination. Thank you for hosting. Have an amazing August!

      Delete
  4. I love your "whirl" posts. We're currently on a road trip exploring parts of NSW we've never previously given a thought to...and loving it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your road trip sounds fantastic, Jo. Look forward to reading your post about it.

      Delete
  5. I love the imprints installation. Def my fav. I can just feel how awesome it would be to play on. I love pizza and Sushi Yummo. (But maybe pizza most)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Caz, for your visit and comment. Lots of people play with the Imprint installation.

      Delete
  6. Hi Natalie,
    I like Resonance. Imprint is neat but the idea has been around forever and you can buy those little hand sized imprint things in science stores.
    Pizza is my vote. The best pizza I've ever had is in San Francisco. Sushi doesn't appeal at all but I do go regularly to an excellent sushi restaurant near me that also serves bento boxes. I love bento boxes. I think it's the little compartments that appeal even more than the food.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Karen - I love Bento boxes, too. They have a little bit of everything, nicely presented, and it's like a fun treasure hunt to discover what's in each of the compartments. Thank you for stopping by.

      Delete
  7. Some neighbors of ours throw a sushi party ever few months. They make amazing - and amazingly yummy - sushi and sashimi for about 15 - 20 people. There is a lot of work involved and it's all gone by the end of the evening. I'm a big pizza fan too, and making my own pizza is much more in my comfort-zone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Janis, for stopping by. The sushi party sounds great! Home made pizzas are the best as you can add the cheese and toppings you like.

      Delete
  8. Loving the pizza, sushi and art!

    SSG xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, SSG, for your comment. Have a great week!

      Delete
  9. Those interactive art installations look like a lot of fun. Stopping by from #MLSTL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Jennifer, for your visit and comment. I saw many adults and children play with these art installations. It is fun to check them out.

      Delete
  10. Nice to meet you, Natalie! You've been to my neck of the woods (Toronto), I see. ☺ Quebec City is a fabulous place too, so reminiscent of Europe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice to meet you, too, Debbie. Thank you for your visit and comment. Lots to see and do in Toronto and Quebec City in the summer.

      Delete
  11. Natalie - visiting from MLSTL and you're hitting on 2 of my favorite things - art and food! Last week, hubby and I did an "art-walk" in our downtown area (Cincinnati) - I had found a walking map that went past over 25 murals in the downtown area. It was about a 4 mile walk...but we took some detours and added on. I didn't take pictures but we did stop for lunch at a restaurant I've been wanting to try in the downtown area - Lobster Court House. Lobster rolls for lunch is quite decadent! (I'm a fan of pizza and sushi as well.)

    When I visit new cities, I often look for art-walk maps and local food tours! Doing it in our own two was quite fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such a terrific art walk that you did, Pat, and the lobster lunch sounds like a must-try. I'll keep this in mind when I visit Cincinnati. Thank you for stopping by.

      Delete
  12. Those four new installations were great Natalie - I loved the 3D pin one - we have a small version that sits on my husband's bookshelf and I find it hard to resist making a new impression when I see it (especially if he has one he wants kept!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Leanne - I saw many adults and children play with these art installations. Your husband may have to get you another 3D pin board :) Thank you for hosting MLSTL.

      Delete
  13. What a cool whirl. Thanks for sharing it. #MLSTL

    ReplyDelete
  14. Every time I read and view your posts I learn more and I see your broad and all encompassing love of life!

    Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek. Next week's optional prompt is: Countries I Have Visited. Denyse x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Denyse, for your kind comment and for hosting #lifethisweek. I look forward to reading next week's posts.

      Delete
  15. Oh, that pizza does look so good. I wish I could try that restaurant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That was the thin crust margherita pizza. It was yummy. Thanks, Amy, for stopping by.

      Delete
  16. Your pictures of sushi made me hungry it looked so good. And I love the art work where you push into the pins to make a picture my kids had hand held boards that could do this and I could spend all kinds of time pushing things into the pins. lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Victoria, for stopping by. The sushi chef and staff at that restaurant are Japanese. Their service and sushi were very good so I'd go back. I saw many adults and children play with the Imprint art installation. It's fun to watch.

      Delete
  17. What fun! I'd LOVE to see those interactive art exhibits! Since I can't, I'll enjoy vicariously through your blog. Great post! Sharing for #MLSTL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Trisha Faye, for stopping by. I'm glad to share the interactive art exhibits with you.

      Delete
  18. That sushi looks amazing and tasty. Such a spoil! Mark and I both love sushi, but rarely go out to dine on any. Your photos will have to do the trick. Luckily, I just ate. :-)

    I really like how Toronto keeps adding art to its urban environment, and especially the last four installations look like fun, to watch and to interact. I'm glad you had a satisfying month for the mind and the body, Natalie!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, Liesbet, now I know we can go for sushi when we meet up one day :) Your July was quite full, from one location to the next and transatlantic, too. Hope you have an enjoyable August!

      Delete
  19. I so enjoyed your earlier post about the interactive art in Toronto. The imprint looks like good fun to me.

    And your sushi has my stomach growling. I rarely get sushi unless I go by myself to eat it. It is an art form in of itself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fun art and good sushi are hard to resist :) Thanks, Leslie, for stopping by.

      Delete
  20. Those giant imprint installations must be irresistible to kids (and kids at heart). I am loving all these interactive art installations on King Street.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kristin, for your comment. The art installations on King Street are irresistible. I play with them whenever I walk by the area.

      Delete